Dictionary › 不由自主

不由自主

bù yóu zì zhǔ

HSK 3.0 level 7-9 4-character word

不由自主 (bù yóu zì zhǔ) means "can't help; involuntarily (idiom)". It is an HSK 3.0 level 7-9 word, and was not on the old six-level HSK list.

What 不由自主 means

1. idiomcan't help but; involuntarily

The characters in 不由自主

• 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-
• 由yóuto follow; from; because of; due to
• 自zì(bound form) self; oneself; from; since; naturally; as a matter of course
• 主zhǔowner; master; host

Go deeper

• The four tones and the neutral tone, to read bù yóu zì zhǔ correctly.
• Look up another word in the free dictionary.